Chromatic blender



Feb. 8, 1938. R; GIVLBERT I 2,107,86G

CHROMATIC BLENDER Filed Feb. 8, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORZ Gilbert ATTORNEY Feb. 8, 3938. R. GILBERT 1 CHROMATIC BLENDER Filed Feb. 8, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 8, 1938 ATENT OFFECE 5 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in chromatic blenders and more particularly to mechanical means for reflecting variable shades of coloring,

An object of this invention is to produce an everchanging shading and blending effect in colors without a sharp definition of any one color.

Another object is to give depth or third dimensional effects to the shaded blending of basic colors.

Another object is to attract and hold the attention of the observer for a considerable period by means not immediately comprehensible, so that he will give close attention to the changing shades of color and any advertising matter associated therewith.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the description progresses.

Broadly stated the invention consists of ar ranging a variety of basic colors on a plurality of three dimensional areas, driven in planetary relation to each other around a common center of rotation.

In this specification and the accompanying drawings the invention is disclosed in its preferred form. But it is to be understood that it is not limited to this form because it may be embodied in other forms within the purview of the claims following the description.

In the two sheets of drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation partly in vertical section of a chromatic blender constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view partly in vertical section of the same.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section taken on the line III-III in Fig. 1 showing the construction details of the chromatic blender.

Fig. 4 is a similar View of the same with modified illumination means.

In detail the construction illustrated in the drawings comprises the base i, having a suitable enclosure 2 thereon. The advertising front 3, which may be of glass, has a transparent portion or opening 4, disclosing the optic field of the chromatic blender, see Fig. 1. Or the blending wheel may be extended forward of the front 3 as in Fig. 3 for smaller units for show windows and interior displays.

The bearing strut 5 mounted upon the base I has the separated antifriction bearings 6 and I mounted therein. The shaft 8 is mounted in these bearings and has the forward extension on the outer end of which the hexagonal hub 9 is fixed. The blending wheel comprises the radial studs Ill fixed in this hub and each has a bevel pinion such as H freely rotatable thereon.

The plurality of color cones l2 having the hubs l3 are fixed to their respective bevel pinions H and are freely rotatable upon their respective studs 13 upon which they are held by the end nuts l4. Six color members !2 are shown but any suitable number may be used. They may be cylindrical, spherical or various shapes adapted to give the third dimensional effects as hereinafter more fully described.

The color wheel 9-H! and the cones i2 mount ed thereupon revolve with the shaft 8 which is driven by the pulley l5 fixed thereon and belted at It to the driving pulley I"! on the shaft of the motor l8 which is mounted upon the base i, see Fig. 2.

In Fig. 3 the sleeve is has the master bevel gear 213 fixed in the end thereof and rotatable on the shaft 8. The pulley 2| is fixed to the opposite end of the sleeve and has the bushing 22 pinned thereto at 23 and freely revolvable on the shaft 8 adjacent the pulley 15. The master gear 28 meshes with all the bevel pinlons H. The pulley 2| is belted at 24 to the driving pulley ll of the motor.

The exposed areas of the several cones i 2 are coated with several basic colors, such as the primary colors red, yellow and blue, preferably arranged in spiral bands such as 25, 26 and 2'! on each cone, see Fig. 1. Thus arranged on the cones the basic colors overlap in coming into and receding from View, to aid in the persistence of vision in the human eye which gives a very soft shading eifect in passing from one dominant shade to the next.

In the modification shown in Fig. 4, the shaft 8 is hollow and has the conduit 28 therethrough to shield the cord 29 supplying current for the electric light 3|] in a socket on the end of the conduit. The conduit 23 is fixed in the bracket 3!, attached to the strut 5 to hold the conduit against rotation with the shaft 8. The end of the lamp 30 is silvered down to its diameter or otherwise provided with a reflector to direct its light against the revolving wheel of cones.

The lights 32 and 33 are mounted upon the base I and adapted to illuminate the cone wheel from below. An excess of illumination tends to diminish the soft velvety effect produced by the cone wheel. Varied efiects can be accomplished by basic color alternatives and light intensity.

The invention operates substantially as follows:

The motor 18 drives the shaft 8 which rotates the radial studs l0 around the axis of the shaft.

The pulley 2|, rotates the ring gear 20 which synchronously sets up a planetary revolution of the cones ii on their respective studs Iii. The rotation of the cones brings their spirally arranged bands of contrasting colors 26-48 into juxtaposition with the similarly moving bands on the adjacent cones l2.

The rotating wheel plus the planetary movement of the cones produces an infinite variety of color blendings and shading. The pulleys i5 and 2| being of different diameters and driven by the pulley I! of one diameter, the ratio differential sets up color combinations in permutations of such magnitude that the chromatic combinations continue to vary for a long period of time before repeating.

I am aware that flat disks having contrasting color patterns thereon and movable relative to each other for chromatic effects have been known. But to the best of my knowledge the third dimensional effects of the present invention have been unknown heretofore. The curved planes of the color members i2 give a degree of depth to the chromatic blendings which is hypnotic in its fascination to the beholder, giving a sense of relaxation and tranquility of probable therapeutic value.

While the studs l0 have been shown perpendicular to the shaft 8 they may be arranged obliquely thereto, so that the Wheel as a whole may be conical as well as the color members; this gives a very attractive Christmas tree effect.

Having thus described this invention, what is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent 1. A chromatic blender including a rotatable wheel having radial studs; conical color members rotatable on said studs and having contrasting color bands arranged spirally on their exposed areas; and means for rotating said color members synchronously with said wheel.

2. A chromatic blender including a rotatable wheel having radial studs thereon; conical color members rotatable on said studs and having contrasting color bands arranged spirally on their curved surfaces; pinions rotatable on said studs and fixed to said color member; a gear engaging said pinions; means for rotating said wheel; and means for rotating said gear at a slightly different speed from that of said Wheel.

3. A chromatic blender including a rotatable Wheel having radial studs thereon; conical members rotatable on said studs and having contrasting color bands on their curved surfaces; means for rotating said wheel at relatively high speed; and means for rotating said color members on said studs at relatively low speed.

4. A chromatic blender including a base; a shaft rotatably mounted on said base; a wheel fixed on said shaft and having radial studs; conical color members rotatable on said studs and having contrasting color bands arranged spirally on their exposed areas; bevel pinions rotatable on said studs and fixed to said color members; a bevel gear rotatably mounted on said shaft and enmeshed with all of said pinions; and means for rotating said shaft and said gear at slightly different speeds.

5. A chromatic blender including a rotatable wheel having studs projecting therefrom; conical members rotatable on said studs and having contrasting color bands on their curved surfaces;

means for rotating said wheel at relatively high speed; and means for rotating said color members on said studs at relatively low speed.

REGINALD GILBERT. 

